Anti‐amnesic effect of bioflavonoid and amino acid from Cnestis ferruginea in Mice

Abstract

IntroductionBrain aging is characterized by cognitive decline and memory deficits that could be the result of oxidative stress and impaired cholinergic function. Cnestis ferruginea (Connaraceae) is a shrub widely used in traditional African Medicine for the treatment of various painful and inflammatory conditions.ObjectiveThis study was carried out to investigate the effect of methanolic root extract of Cnestis ferruginea (CF) and its active constituents on scopolamine (3mg/kg, IP) induced memory impairment in mice.MethodsMemory function was evaluated by Morris water maze and passive avoidance tests. Biochemical parameters of oxidative stress and cholinergic function were estimated in brain after the completion of behavioural studies.ResultAdministration of CF (25–200mg/kg, PO) for three days inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the brain and prevented scopolamine induced memory impairment in mice (p<0.05). Further, through activity guided assay CF‐2 and CF‐5 were isolated from CF. CF‐2 and CF‐5 (12.5 and 25 mg/kg, PO), administered for 3 days, ameliorated memory impairment induced by scopolamine in Morris water maze and passive avoidance tests (p<0.001). Further, CF‐2 and CF‐5 produced significant (p<0.05) inhibition of AChE activity in mice brain far better than tacrine (5 mg/kg, PO). The crude extract and its active constituents exhibited antioxidant effect as shown by significant (p<0.05) decrease in MDA level and elevated GSH level in mice brain.ConclusionThis study shows that CF‐2 and CF‐5 could be a novel drug in the management of dementia due to their potent antioxidant and AChE activity.